A guardian angel

I have heard of celebrities that sometimes get like recovery coaches who follow them around 24 hours a day while they try to stay sober. I always thought that if I had a recovery coach like that it would be a lot easy to stick with sobriety beyond the first week or two that always ruins me. Is there such a thing as an online recovery coach that would work like that on an as needed basis – so anytime I feel like I need some help I can just connect for support?

Jill Edwards Says...

Having regular support, especially in the first few weeks, and really for quite a while afterwards is very important as you rightly point out. I think this is one of the big advantages of the twelve step programmes like Alcoholics Anonymous, where you can daily attend meetings and you can arrange a sponsor who is available for you to connect to and get support. Your sponsor has to be someone you trust so you can learn to listen to what they say and stop yourself from getting into risky situations. I would advise you to use this kind of support as you also have the support of other members there as well, who know what you are going through.

If that does not suit, you can get support from local Drug and Alcohol groups and help lines.

If you would like to work with me via text or e-mail, then you can e-mail me to discuss suitable arrangements about cost, perhaps $5 per text and $10 per e-mail. Have a look at my website at www.invitationtotalk.co.uk. There would however be difficulties with time lines as I am writing from the United Kingdom, so the response may not be as quick as you would like.

On the other hand, you could say that you need to build up some inner support before you try to give up drinking and we may be able to work through your difficulties in staying with the decision to stop via e-mails only, as a preparatory exercise before you as it were start stopping.

I would be prepared to give this sort of support. Whatever you choose, I wish you the best of success in getting free.